Not every addition to the Oklahoma football team on signing day came via the fax machine. Every year, there are prospects that the coaches are infatuated with, but due to logistics are unable to offer a scholarship. Instead of forcing them to enroll and go through the walk-on tryout process like a normal student, an opportunity is presented for a “preferred walk-on” to circumvent that hassle and have comfort in knowing they will be a part of the program.
So while the Sooners only signed two players from the Sooner State, that didn’t mean they were done finding talent among Oklahomans.
One prospect the coaches had their eyes on for a while was Edmond Memorial kicker/punter Braxton Pickard.
“I went to their specialist camp the last three years and they’ve kind of noticed me and then I was invited to junior day,” Pickard recalled, “This past summer I won everything at the specialist camp and they’ve been sending tons of stuff since then.”
Even though a scholarship offer was never extended, Pickard never gave up hope.
Coach Jay Boulware let Pickard know how much the Sooners wanted him by arriving at the Edmond Memorial standout’s house for an in-home visit a week before signing day. Without a scholarship in hand, Boulware sold the longtime Oklahoma fan on a preferred walk-on opportunity. “(Boulware) talked about how I could help their special teams and the competition I would bring,” Pickard remembered.
The Sooners would like Pickard to come in and provide depth behind Austin Seibert, who handled both kicking and punting duties for OU as a freshman in 2015.
It was a successful year by any measure for Seibert; he was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best punter, earned All-American honorable mention at punter from Sports Illustrated, named All-Big 12 Second Team at punter by league’s coaches, AP, and Phil Steele, and was selected Second Team All-Big 12 at kicker by the AP.
Part of the value Pickard brings is his ability to back up Seibert at both kicker and punter moving forward, as Oklahoma now has two multi-dimensional, talented specialists to lock down both positions over the next three years.
Kohl’s Kicking recruiting services listed Austin Seibert as the No. 2 kicker and No. 1 punter in the country last season. They ranked Braxton Pickard as the No. 7 kicker and No. 15 punter for the class of 2016. Their website, kohlskicking.com, describes what the Sooners will be receiving from the former Bulldog boot:
“Pickard is a top 3 FG kicker in the 2016 class. He has won 5-6 competitions in front of our staff. Pickard has great FG range, ball seems to carry longer than other campers. Pickard is D1 game ready on FG. He has the mindset needed to be able to focus and compete. Pickard can also punt very well for his age. He is a consistent punter who can hit balls that spirals and turn over. Pickard’s KO’s are very good but not special amongst the nation’s elite. He would be an average D1 kick-off specialist. He is a money FG kicker who could play week one of his freshman year in college.”
As a senior, Pickard earned Oklahoma’s Kicker/Punter of the Year, was named All-District and All-City, while making 10 of his 14 field goal attempts with a long of 43 and averaged 39.2 yards per punt.
